Tyres burnt at school gates

Cape Town - Parents at Nomlinganiselo Primary School in Nyanga burnt tyres at the school gates this morning in the second day of protest against the principal.

The protesting parents claim the principal has been threatening to fire teachers and hire his relatives to teach at the school.

A parent, who did not want to be named, said: “We want him to be suspended while (the Western Cape Department of Education) investigates this issue. The department said they will come and meet with us this morning, but no one has arrived. Everyone knows that the government gives more attention to your cause if you make a noise – that is why we were burning tyres.”

Education Department spokesman Paddy Attwell said yesterday that certain members of the community wanted to remove the principal of Nomlinganiselo Primary in New Crossroads. In the first week of the school year, teaching at another school, Dr Nelson R Mandela High in Crossroads, was also disrupted after teachers refused to teach until the principal was removed.

Yesterday, parents used their own locks to close the gates of Nomlinganiselo Primary to stop the principal from entering.

Several allegations have been made against the principal, including nepotism and corruption. Attwell said protesters had provided a list of allegations and the department was investigating.

A parent, who did not want to be named, said a meeting between parents and teachers was held on Tuesday.

“The parents want the principal to be suspended while (the department is) investigating, but the department said no,” she said.

Teachers said the problems started last year when the principal presented the school’s budget to parents without first consulting teachers.

Teachers said they felt the department was dragging its heels with the investigation. They will not go back to class until the matter is resolved.